HAZWOPER: Donning, Doffing, and Decontamination
Course Description:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s, or OSHA’s, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard, known as HAZWOPER provides guidelines for workers to safely handle hazardous materials in situations such as cleaning up or removing hazardous substances from a site or an emergency response to a hazardous substance release. The HAZWOPER standard, found at 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 1910.120(b) requires that employers develop and implement a safety and health program. This includes a site-specific safety and health plan for their employees that addresses, among other requirements, an emergency response plan for “safe and effective responses to emergencies, including the necessary personal protective equipment, (PPE), and other equipment”.
When responding to incidents involving the accidental release of hazardous substances, it’s often necessary for response personnel to wear self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) and fully encapsulating suits to protect against contamination from toxic environments during the decontamination process. A routine of donning and doffing your protective suit must be established and practiced frequently.
This course will explain the basics of donning and doffing and the important procedures of the decontamination process.
Why “HAZWOPER: Donning, Doffing, and Decontamination” Matters:
At the completion of this course, the participant will be able to:
- Properly plan and prepare for the decontamination process
- Implement the steps of donning PPE
- Follow the steps of doffing PPE
- Identify the methods and procedures of safe decontamination and their importance
Key Points:
- Have a plan for decontamination, and execute it flawlessly.
- Know your zones, and be proactively aware of the hazards that surround you and your corresponding actions.
- Make sure you receive comprehensive training on all aspects of the decontamination process at your worksite.
- Consult all your resources regarding the safe handling of the hazardous materials you are dealing with, and seek expert advice if you have any questions.
- Always follow procedures!
